The already sizeable New Orleans Hornets’ front line will be getting bigger by the end of the week, when free-agent center Gustavo Ayon arrives for an introductory press conference scheduled for Friday. Ayon, 6 feet 10, 250 pounds, announced at a media briefing in Spain on Wednesday — and sources later confirmed — that he will be joining the Hornets after New Orleans contributed half of the $1.5 million buyout Ayon needed to escape from Madrid’s Fuenbrada team.

The Hornets’ scouting staff had seen Ayon several times in the Euroleague before the beginning of the 149-day lockout last summer.

Sources indicated that the Hornets’ half of Ayon’s buyout that facilitated his exit from Madrid — about $525,000 — didn’t come from money the team received from the draft-night transaction with New York that sent second-round draft choice Josh Harrellson to the Knicks. That brought the Hornets about $750,000 in cash.

Nicknamed “The Titan,” Ayon also was coveted by the Indiana Pacers and Denver Nuggets this season, and in the past he was sought by the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns.

The Hornets didn’t comment on Ayon’s acquisition Wednesday because he has yet to sign a contract. Ayon is en route to New Orleans from Spain.

Ayon has been a member of the Mexican national basketball team since 2007, and his play last season in Europe was eye-opening. In 10 games with Fuenlabrado this season, Ayon, 26, averaged 15.8 points and 8.2 rebounds. During the 2010-11 season, Ayon averaged 10.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in 33 games.

Playing 25 1/2 minutes, Okafor had 12 points and five rebounds in the Hornets’ 97-90 exhibition win over the Grizzlies last Friday in Memphis, Tenn., and Ariza, who logged 29 1/2 minutes, had 11 points, five assists and a game-high four steals.

Six-foot-8 free-agent Lance Thomas, who started at power forward in the first game against Memphis, started at center Wednesday night, and Quincy Pondexter started at small forward.

“Just resting those guys,” Hornets Coach Monty Williams said. “They’ve gone really hard in practice and have a few bumps and bruises. We’re trying to be as smart as we can. I don’t want to try to outsmart myself, but we just thought after talking to Ish (trainer Jon Ishop), to stay on top of some of the things that pop up, it was just prudent to keep those guys out tonight.

“There are no issues. Guys get hit in practice, and you don’t want a small thing to turn into a big thing because we didn’t take a day or two off. We’re going to see what we have tonight. It’s an opportunity to get a look at Quincy and Al-Farouq (Aminu) at the three-spot, and Lance has earned these minutes. He’s played hard every single day in practice. All those guys have.”

Williams said on his pregame radio show that Okafor has a minor thigh contusion.

Pondexter made the most of his 41 minutes, finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds in New Orleans’ 95-80 victory.

He wasn’t with the team and was said to be in Canada finalizing immigration issues. Gasol is a native of Spain.

On Tuesday, the Grizzlies announced that forward Darrell Arthur will miss the entire season with a torn Achilles tendon.

TV CHANGE: With no recognizable superstars remaining on the Hornets’ roster, the exodus by the league’s partner television networks scheduled to telecast New Orleans games has begun — by the league’s own TV frequency.

NBA-TV announced that Wednesday night’s Hornets’ home opener against the Boston Celtics, scheduled to be telecast by the network, was replaced by the Grizzlies’ home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Hornets’ home game against the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 30 is scheduled for NBA-TV telecast.